STOPPING POWER METERS ****

3rd Edition
By: John .1. WiUiam, MSEE
President
Consumertronics Co.
Includes STOPPING POWER METERS 2ND EDITION, SPM ADDENDUM
And More!!
STOPPING POWER METERS is divided into two distinct bodies. The first body
covers watt-hour energy meters, how they work, how they are adjusted, and
the errors they produce. The second body is devoted to various techniques of
slowing do~,vn and stopping power meters.
This pamphlet is comprehensive, lengthy and full of valuable information.
Indepth theoretical knowledge is not required to understand and utilize it.
However, a very good practical electrical and electronic background and
know-how is a must. NOTE: The utility meter attached to your home or
business is a watthour meter - not a power meter.
CAUTIONS AND DISCLAIMERS
DO NOT USE THESE METHODS ON ANY METER BELONGING TO A UTILITY.
Completely isolate your utility meter from your personal meter with an
isolation transformer and/or heavy filtering. As hr as we know, the legality
of applying load control methods that incidentally make the utilityowned
meter underregister has not been legally tested. However, assume that the
law will take as dim a View of doing this as it does if you actually physically
tamper with the meter. It is ironic that many law enforcement agencies on
one hand can't seem to do enough to plea# utility big-shots while blithely
ignoring the many and extreme aimes committed by utilities upon the
citizenry. Fortunately, most juries savvy this perversity of the law and act
accordingWe must firmly state that we are totally against breaking the law in any
fashion and that WE FORBID ALL ILLEGAL APPLICATIONS..Also, no licence#
is granted under the copyright and/or patent rights of Consumertronics Co.
or anyone else. And, although we have made every reasonable effort to
provide accurate, reliable and useful information, we assume no
responsibility whatsoever for errors or omissions.
Be careful and know what you are doing. Induced currents can injure or kill
and mistakes can also cause# property damage. All circuit diagrams are
simplified; add fuses and circuit breakers as required.
WATTHOUR METERS
There is nothing magical or sacred about watthour meters.
Like any high-grade scientific instrument designed to accurately
measure an electrical parameter (energy, in kilo-watthours)
under specific operating conditions and an ideal environment,
they lose accuracy when their operating and environmental
conditions are less than ideal and thru the process of aging.
Watthour meters measure electrical energy consumed in a
dynamic load by using the principle of the 2-Phase induction
motor. IN FACT, IF THE ROTOR DISK WAS
RESTRAINED, THE WATTHOUR METER BECOMES A
CONSUMERTRONICS CO.
Copyright ~ 1979 John J. Williams ana

DYNAMOMETER-TYPE POWER METER.

Essential features of watthour meters are depicted in Fig. 1. The basic
elements of the single phase meter are the stator assembly (electromagnet),
the rotor assembly (includes disk) the retarding magnet(s), and the resister
assembly.
The stator consists of a voltage (potential coil) with a compensatory winding,
and two current coils. The stator is energized by the combined effects of the
line voltage and load currents. Two torques acting in the same direction but
~0 electrical degrees apart are generated. These sinusoidal rotor torques add
to produce a resultant constant and steady torque. The first torque
component results from the interaction of the useful current flux (dw to load
current) with the voltage-induced eddy currents in the disk, and like the
induction motor, rotor speed is proportional to line frequency. The second
rotor torque results from the interaction of the useful voltage flux with the
current-induced eddy currents in the disk. When the power factor (PF) is
unity, both torques are always in the forward direction because the current
(or voltage) flux is always of the same polarity as the voltage (or current)induced eddy currents. However, when the PF is less than unity (lag or lead~,
there are different instances in the cydes of each torque component when
the torques are reversed corresponding to those instances in which the line
voltage and current are of different polarity. Although still initially constant
,
average torque is diminished.
As it turns out, the disk torque will be proportional to the product of RMS
voltage, RMS current, and PF (cosine of the phase angle between voltage and
current). Thus, you will b billed for the real, not imaginary, power consumed.
Our LOADFINDER pamphlet, among other information, explains real,
imaginary and apparent power and how to make PF corrections.
To translate the disk torque into disk sFed, permanent "braking" magnets
must be provided, otherwise, the disk sFed would increase until arrested by
very low air and dVot friction. These powerful magnets generate an eddy
current in the aluminum disk whenever it is moving. This eddy current
provides an opposing torque because its flux opposes that of the permanent
magnets. This theoretically results in one constant sFed for every torque
level. Thus, disk speed is then proportional to consumed real power. The
register assembly consists of a gear train that connects the rotor worm gear
to the pnged dials in the meter's faceplate. Thr~pha#, three-wire systems
require two single-phase meters or one meter with two independent stators.
Four-wire polyphase systems usually require three single-phase meters. For
~I PF less than 0.5, one meter will always run BACKWARDS! Unless it is
known for certain that PF is less than 0.5, the true energy reading cannot b
accurately determined.
P.O. Drawer537,
Alamogordo, N. M. 88310
Family, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Stopping Power Meters
STATOR LINE 240 VAC
CT~ToF~ ASSEMBLY ~
Braking Maon~.
P. 2
Comp~nsation Coil - ~ ~

Worm Gear

\Volta9;C~ S
Current Coil ~ ~ ~ ~;Wrent Cojl
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~Brskin~ M~n~t; -ROTOR AEStM~
ROTOR ASSEMBLY ~_ Rotor Plate - Fig. 1: Basic Elements of the Typical Induction Watthour Meter. The four
major manufacturers of watthour meters are: 1 ) General Electric. 2)
Sangamo. 3) Westinghouse. 4) Duncan.
The common inductance watthour meters design principle has remained
unchanged since 1925, but there have been some improvements in devoting,
roil design compenr, tion, otc., since then. To maintain accuracy watthour
meters must b calibrated frequently. Utilities u ually limit this recallibration
to: I) Full-Load Adjustment. 2) Light-Load Adjustment. 3) L~ Adjustment.
I~ FULL-LOAD ADJUSTMENT
The Full-Load Adjustment rating of most home and small business m~rs is 5
to 30 amps, printed on meter face. At a loss of some accuracy, most modem
meters are capable of measuring energies of up to 600% Full-Load Rabng.
This adjustment is made at full load and unity PF. It is done by assuring that
the braking magnets are of suitable strength. Then, by carefully varying
their positions, from thedisk or by adjusting the positions of the magnetic
shunts that lie between their Pob faces and the disk, by turning the
adjustment wh~l that has an "F" and "S" on it until disk speed is accurately ~t.
NOTE: In some cases the "S" direction speeds the meter up while the "F"
direction slows it down ~Duncan Meters). This opposite notation is designed
to fool and Fnalize meter tamFrers. This is the main adjustment that the
utility will make when either you or it is concerned about the meter's
ccurac~
2) LIGHT-LOAD ADJUSTMENT
Under light loads (10% of Full Load), meter performance becomes nonlinear.
This results from friction, lack of linearity
~

~ Registration Dials~

J ~
P ~
~REGISTER ASSEMBLY;
in the generation of driving torque as a function of load current;, and the
presence of torques due to the potential flux acting alone caused by the lack
of symmetry of the stator with respect to the disk. Uncompensated, meters
usually overregister under light loads. However, due to voltage coil flux
irregularities, it has not been uncommon for meters to run backwards under
li~ht loads. Slots and holes have ben put in the disks of modern meters to
prevent the disk from moving at all under very light loads ~less than 1% Full
Load). This adjustment essentially adds a controlled torque due to the
w~
n~- 1S151, l~tO~ ~o~
other uulnerabilitie~

ISgl. ~, ~UI~I.ED OFF~ 1S61. dtscribt manl~

Nt-rd ~bout our shockin~ public~tion ~UTO~i~TIC ~L~

or ~ FO' ~LLI~ IS201?
CoNsUMERTRoNIcs CO~ P.o. Draw~r537
N.M. 88310 N~nON~L ENQUII~EII, t~
Shppin~ Power Meters

C~ E~ IS20l.

of C~ ~0 IIII~UT~, mo~ordo.

P. 3

voltage flux alone sufficient to provide the correct disk sFed for 10% unity PF
loads. Compensation torque is provided by adding a shaded-pole loop known
as the Light-Load Plate. The necessity of this adjustment is apparent if the
disk turns in either direction when there is no load. This condition is known
as "meter aeeP- 3) LA~ AD,~USTMENT
Since the voltage coil has some resistance, the voltage flux lags line voltage
by less than 90~. A compensatory lag coil (See Fig. 11 or plate is provided to
adjust the lag so that it is as close to 90as possible. This adjustment is made
at 0.5 lagging PF. When the lag is out of adjustment, it almost always results
in underregistration, but it is hardly noticeable unless the PF is small. Any
lag adjustment made to inaea# disk sFed at lagging PF will decrease its speed
for leading PF (capacitative load). Often, the Light- Load and Lag
Adjustments are provided by the same mechanism. A radial motion provides
the Lag Adjustment while a circumferential motion provides the Light-Load
Adjustment.
WATTHOUR METER INACCURACIES
Utilities are fond of boasting that watthour meters are accurate to within ~1%
of actual consumption under conditions where load currents vary from 0.3%
to 400% and voltage from 80% to 120% of rated values, PF from 0.2 lagging
to 0.2 leading, and temperatures from -40 C to ~75 C. In my opinion, that
claim is utterly false. In reality, this is the very best case error for precise
ly
calibrated meters under laboratory conditions. Under the above "field"
conditions, cumulative error for a calibrated meter can be as high as 10096
under small loading conditions and higher than 10% under normal
home/business loads WITHOUT having made any effort to "fool" the meter.
These errors can result in either your or the utility's favor. When it favors
the utility, you'll never hear about it, and you will undoubtedly never collect
a dime for past overpayments. When the error is in your favor, if the utility
notices, you probably will b billed on a guessed-estimate arbitrarily
determined by the utility to adjust your costs upwards. And your meter will
b recalibrated or replaced by one more favorably calibrated for the utility,
andlor you may b monitored by a pole meter. However, unless you take the
initiative and even chronically complain, the utility will seldomly adjust an
overregistering meter to read the correct amounts.
Meter errors are caused by a number of factors, many of them interrelated.
These errors exist even when the meter is precisely calibrated. They are
accentuated when the Full-Load, Light Load and/or Lag adjustments are
required. No scientific instrument remains accurate if not frequently and
precisely calibrated, particularly an instrument in continuous outdoor use.
Wear, deterioration, temperature, humidity, dirt, electromagnetic fields and
vibration always take their toll. Meters usually spend years in operation,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN DECADES, between calibrations. Errors didn't matter
so much when rates were fair, such as in the 1960s and early 1970s.
However, few people can now afford to pay for their actual consumption much less for errors that are compounded by the Fuel Adjustment rip-off.
METER ERROR SOURCES

I) TEMPERATURE ERROR
Meters read high between O and 8~F and low thereafter. Error accentuates
with decreasing PF and alone can be as high as 4% at 0.5 PF. The main cause#
of this error is the increase in the voltage coil lag at low temperatures
(temporary error) and demagnetization of the braking magnets permanent
error) at high temperatures. ALL PERMANENT MAGNETS DEMAGNETIZE
WITH TIME, THE RATE OF WHICH IS DETERMINED BY TEMPERATURE, TIME,
QUALITY, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD EXPOSURE. The demagnetization of
braking magnets ALWAYS results in rotor speed-up and over registration I
2) FREQUENCY ERROR
Lille frequency seldomly varies more than ~ IX from 60 ~or 50) Hz. a 10%
variation of line frequency can result in a 1% or more error, particularly for
high PFs. Meter reads high at low frequencies ~to a point) and low at high
frequencies. Meter ~can perform erratically when harmonically rich
waveforms ~eg rectified sine wave) is applied to it at appreciable energy
levels. Error is higher for low PF loads at low frequency.
3) VOLTAGE ERROR
Generally, line voltage k stable to within+10% of rated. In cases of
overvoltage, watthour meters read substantially low due to significant AC
damping that results in some braking. This phenomenon is called "overload
droop" and is slightly higher for low PF. Watthour meters read slightly high
when voltage is low.
- 4) VERY HIGH OR VERY LOW LOADING
Very low loading almost always favors the utility, even for compensated
meters, up to the point where the meter stops turning. This error can
possibly be as much as 100% of actual consumption. Very high loading of
meter results in 'overload droop." For low PF, the meter almost always
reads high no matter the actual consumption.
6) METER DISSIPATION
Meters dissipate about IA watts on a continuous basis. Furthermore, if the
disk stops turning, 22-24 watts is required just to restart it. For the dubious
privilege of letting the utility monitor your electrical consumption, it costs
you about one KWH Fr month in meter dissipation alone.
6) VIBRATION AND SHOCK
Vibration and shock will uncalibrate any scientific instrument - including
watthour meters, causing it to either underregister or overregister. Thus, if
your meter is located where earthquakes have occurred, near heavy
machinery, or near high traffic flows, your meter may be put out of
calibration in a very short period of time.
The effects of most of these error mechanism are summarized in Fig. 2.
This section is dedicated to slowing down, even stopping power meters
without physically tampering with them or applying externally pnerated
power, and~ while consuming substantial power. WE MUST STATE
CATEGORICALLY THAT NO METHOD IS PROVIDED FOR ILLEGAL
APPLICATION WHATSOEVER. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR
EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PU RPOSES ONLY. WE ARE
ABSOLUTELY AND TOTALLY AGAINST BREAKING THE LAW IN ANY FASHION.
Any attempt to tamper with a utility meter is almost definitely illegal. It is
unclear to me whether the legal definition of tampering includes load control
methods. Some utilities define it ~:
"Tampering means any unauthorized interference with the Company's
equipment, including meters or other property, which would reduce the
accuracy of the measurement, or eliminate the measurement of the
electricity taken by any Customer or person on the premises, or any
unauthorized connection of a meter."

utilities maintain easement rights over virtually every property they

service. Thus, if you break into the meter attached to your property while
standing on your property you could go
Stoppin~ Pow~r Met~rs
to jail for TRESPASSING! If your utility notices a sudden drop in usage or
very low usage that cannot be
explained,they will probably sudd nly appear to examine the situation.
Broken meters and seals, meter bypasses, attached magnets, etc., are very
obvious. Don't be like the old farmer who shot a hole in the side of his meter
glass with 9 B-B gun. He would then slaN the meter da~n by inserting a piece
of straw between the rotor disk and braking magnet, at night. The hole was
discovered by a meter retder five years later. He blamed the hole on,
"Vandals shooting up the place last weekend." See our infamous but
delightful GOOSY MOTHA'S FAIRY TALES publication ~$1.95).
The utility may slap a pole meter on your line. A pole
'J
meter may be a meter similar to yours or it may be a
currentscJuared-hour (~SH) meter. These are located on the
top of or near to your service pole and are generally placed
Just where your service drop connects into the main lines.
They are usually easy to spot. They may be the hook on tyF,
which has a folding hook that loops around the wire and closes
to look like a folded question mark. Or they may b
hard-wired. No matter how precise they claim these meters to
be, as well as your meter, a 10% or so difference in readings can
occur just from nominal differences between the meters, line
droppage, and different environments. Since a CSH meter does
not indicate line voltage fluctuations, the error can be
substantially greater than that of a pole meter watthour meter.
Furthermore, if your PF is extremely low, which can be
measured accurately by a utility PF meter, the utility will
likely personalize you for this condition.
Few people dispute the need of a utility to get a fair retum solely based upon
the service provided (but not upon the utility's investments~. However, most
people believe that public (?) utilities have been swindling them. Electrical'
costs have soared several times what they should be. Many people believe
that if the untampered watthour meter provided by the utility is unable to
adequately measure the amount of usage required by their particular
desired loads, then that is their problem. ExFa to be hassled if they ever
discover this. Don't brag.
No method of slowing or stopping a power meter should be based upon
breaking a line neutral or fusing one. These practices are deadlyll Virtually
every method that will slow or stop the meter employs loading that requires
DC or frequency components somewhat removed from 6~ Hz. Fig. 2
demonstrates the- susceptibility of watthour meters to such
conditions.Power meters behave similarly. Note: As the line frequency
approaches either DC or high frequency, the watt-hour reading tends to zero
(disk stops turning). A meter with only DC or RF energy imposed on it will
not turn no matter how much energy is applied, it will burn out first. In the
RF case, there are certain tones that do this best, largly dependent upon
meter and wiring. Any DC will brake a meter similarly to the braking
magnets. DC brakes are, in fact, commonly applied to induction motors in
general. Even a powerful induction motor can be made to practically stop on
a dime when DC is applied. Even a little DC will eventually magnetize
permanently the stator if applied long enough to provide lasting effects even
after it is removed.
High frequency components will simply underregister due to the impedances
and hysteresis of the coils and rotor inertia. Since meter voltage is hard to

alter, frequency techniques are applied to the current thru the mster. Mixed
frequencies, ie rectified sine wave, will cause the rotor to behave erratically,
and if its energy is high enough, rotor sFed will drastically slow down and
may evenstop. Harmonically-rich waveforms require more energy to stop a
meter than DC or RF, simpy bcause most of its harmonic energy is in
freqwncies not very far from 60 Hz. Fast load surges will be far
underr~istered primarily due to he rotor inertia.
CAUTION: Line and induced volta~s can killl For all ehctrical projocts, be
certain that all circuit components induding wiring, can more than handle
worse case voltages currents and powers before proceeding to construct any
drcuit. U# sensible, safe and accurate wiring techniques and procedures, as
well as good judgment, at all times. YOUR SAFETY IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU.
If you do not have a power or KW-HR meter to practice on, either can be
obtained legally. KW-HR meters can be obtained by mail from ENGINEERING
ASSOCIATES, 7567 Rt. 49A East, Dept. C, Arcanum, OH 453C4. They sell a real
nice, rebuilt. Iike-new, GE 1-14, 5 Amp, 115 VAC KW-HR meter for ONLY
$2011 Owner's narne is Charles C. Littell, Jr.. (513) 692-5641 .
In our figurss, ~ represents line neutral, and ~7 represents earth ground
(ussd to ground cases in three wire 120 VAC systems). PIV designates peak
inverse or reverse voltap, or DC working voltap for capacitors. All figures are
simplified circuit diagrams. Add fu#/drcuit breaker protection as required.
In addition, all meters should have tNnsient suppression. Cl of Fi~s. 6 and 7
do a good job. For better transient suppression, GE, Schenectady, NY, does
excellent work in this area with very good GEMOV 19 Varistors. Transient
suppression is required to assure long lasting,rare-free psrformanres of
semiconductors, capacitors and other components. Even without our
methods, good transient and riwle eliminstion protects induction motors and
transformers, and shields applianres from utility ripde control of them. Our
RIPPLED OFF pamphlet explains transients, ripde, and utility apdiance and
Peak Demand Meter control in detail.
I) DC LOADS
DC Loading is the hardest to accomplish but it is the most effective method.
If you have induction motors or transformers~ they will also be adversely
affected by any DC that reaches them. C=500 uf, 25 PIV min. L=1000 turns
rriin., insulated wire on'about a l" soft-iron core. As with all suggested homemade inductors, keepwell insulated and don't U# a core that can be touched
(eg leg of a drill press). Cl are PaFr-Oil typss or Fig. 1 lelectrolytics, and a
re
1000 to 100,000 uf, 400 PIV, depandin~ upon load reactance. See Fiq. 3.
With the DC Method, three major problem areas have ari#n. Some are finding
that the Cl (Blocking Capacitors) are very expensive, overly bulky or difficult
to realize, even with the Fig.ll arrangement. The# capacitors are required
ONLY IF you apply the DC Method with other loads #nsitive to DC excitation
(induction motors and tNnsformers tend to saturate) simultaneously running
off the same meter. This problem is simply solved by running all your DC
experiments with all the #nsitive loads disconnected. With a DC current of
about 5 Amps, a substantial permanent decrea# in meter indication will
result with time due to permanentlyinduced malfunctions.
Problems involving the kickback of rectified AC into the DC power supply are
evident. We u#d a very heavy duty charger (like that found in garages) and
didn't ob#rve any malfunctions. Fig. 4 illustrates two approaches of
overcoming this problem, making it possible to realize this method with a
smaller, home-type auto-battery charger.
The Fig. 3 circuit only affeas the current coils of the meter. This is becau# th
e
meter's voltage coil is across the outputs of the two rectifiers. To get the
voltage coil into the act, we used the circuit of Fig. 5. We obtained
satisfactory results with both approaches, but customers prefer the Fig. 5

approach.
Be careful when using the DC mathod. Other meters sharing the same power
transformer #condary will also be slowed down. However, becau# the loads
on any other meters will probably not be DC isolated, havoc could result in
their operations.
Stoppin~ Power Meters
P

Gt~ rl~t

or
IN~ _ n
I Uni~er~
~br
12-24 VDC~L
24) ~C

lR1198~

B-ttery 6 ~
ch-rs~r.

~;~ ~

hlc~d~ ht-

SFii9. I3nDocf +allHaapproaches~ Each oth~r~[ ~=

load block above repre#nts two ~ Lo~d~

r~L,
L~

~ I I ~
Blocl~U c p~cltor

Cl~ ~DC
~ ~C Lo d- anly

Lo d4

Fig. 3: Direct Current Method. Inductor must be large, L=1000 turns

minimum. See text.
approximately equal l;~U vAC loads in #ries. See text.
~Rect
T ~rRect. ~' a. T ~ Rect. |X.
$~ II

~
'''

Fig. 9: Alternate Harmonic Method, suggested by many

readers but resulting in no real reduction in our experiments.
Rect. are two t N 11 98A. See text.
Fig. 4: Two ways to overcome the back voltaging problem of
O
Fig. 3 (SPM) DC Method. Cs, Ls and Rects. (1N1198A) are
the same as for Fig. 3. R is a 120 Volt heater element load. See
text.
~
DC ~ r-\~R ~
$Rect . RectS~ppl~

r~

Xf rmr
~
~-~IC1
Fig. 5: Alternate DC Method. Voltage Coil (VC) is in the Q DC circuit. CCs are
Current Coils of meter. C and C1s, same as n Fig. 3. Rs are 120V heater
elements. Rect. is 1N1198A. See ~S
teYt
Fig. 6: Frequency Method using capacitative coupling. C is between 0.01 and
0.001 uf, 400 PIV. C1=2' uf polypropylene. L=100 turns. See text.

~,~ RG SB or 5 ~, ~
~i~l ~3 1
Other
Clr

C~ _

Fig. 7: Alternate Frequency Method using inductive coupling. L1=100 turns.

All other values are the same as Fig. 6. See text.
DC Pa~e ~
supply ~:
Calp~
IIC l~dFig. 10: Momentary Current Surge Method. See text.
_
~ ~ ~ ~1+ ~l~
Fig. 11: An equivalent circuit for using electrolytic capacitors to do the job o
f
SCR or paper-oil types. The big advantage here is that electrolytics are
considerably cheaper and smaller and more available for large capacitances.
However, DC rated electrolytics are not recommended by manufacturers for
this type of application, but we have had good results using them. Suitable
capacitors may have to be found by a trial and error process. Some may
overheat, swell and possibly even explode under these conditions. Use
Cautionl
2) HIGH FREQUENCY LOADS High frequency loading is more easily accompished but less effective and
consistent than the DC Method and will require "tuning." Tone generators are
also called signal, audio, frequency or function generators. Most well
designed units with shorted output protection and the ability to deliver at
least 5 amF (if necessary, couple with an audio amplifier) to the meter. Tones
may be steady or in bursts. Our TONE DEAF pamphlet conbins many useful
designs. See FiF. 6 and 7. Optimum frequency is emdrially determined. Meter
will stop at certain "resonant" tones but run at higher tones. The signal an be
either hardwired to the meter, Fig. 6. or transformer ooupled to it, Fig. 7. The
former appears more effective, the latter, more safe. Very good shielding
should be
NOTE: All figures are simplified circuit diagrams. Add fu#s or circuit
breakers where necessary.
~ ShppinS~
provided and all signal lines should b of minimal len~th and ~with good
impedanoe matchin~. Radiated RFpowerbyonda small amount pnerally
roquires prior FCC approval. We found in certain cases that by using the Fig.
6 circuit with the rn~r passing only a few 60 Hz amps, the meter will indicate
in reverse at everal frequency points. Why? We are not absolutely certain
about the mechanism involved but believe that the revelsals are caused by a
combination of voltage coil flux irregularities and voltage to current phase

relationships. a arel 2 uf (non41ectrolytic) polypropylene capacitors. If

polypropybne capacitors are not available, use polyc~rbonate or polyester
capacitors. We recommend 400 PIV ratings, unless you are in a high
lightning strike area, then 8~0 PIV ue better. LslOO turns, 2" dia., be sure to
use heavy enough wiring to withstand.loading. Ll inductors are made from at
least 100 turns each of both insulated meter lines and insulated tone
pnerator lines, tightly packed. Ferrite coras are preferred, air cores are not
nearly as good but will work if tone generator voltage and windings are high.
In our Ist Edition of SPM, we recommended RF signals of 1 KHz to 1~0 KHz
~Figs. 6 and 7). Frequency components below 1 KHz are difficul~-to filter ~ut
without significantly attenuat;ng tho 60 Hz Line comPonent. even though
some
~ower Meters

P. 7

fre~uencies, phasos and amditudes. Whan a 60 Hz sine wave is half wave

rectified, DC and 60 Hz components are produced
' along with an infinite number of harmonics that raddly diminish in power
content. The DC component will brake the meter movament while the
harmonics will diminish tha total mater reading by making the meter
bahave in an e~rrabc fashion.~ Rectifier must be rated such that its steadY
state current ratin~ is at least twica the sum of all universal or DC motors,
incandescant lighting and heater elemant steady state load currents. Rectifier
surge current rating should b at least three times the combined sur~e
currents for all loads. Minimum PIV should b 800 volts. Transient
suppression is highly recommended. If there is a lot of motor brush
sparking, filter out all AC components for a DC motor, and all harmonics fw
an AC motor. Use a 2 uf non electrolytic, 400 PIV capacitor across the motor
terminals. DC may haw to be filtered out for some univarsal motors.
USE GREAT CARE IN APPLYING THE CIRCUIT OF FIG. 8 BECAUSE IT RESULTS
IN A FLOATED LINE NEUTRAL. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, POSSI8LY
RESULTING IN SHOCK OR FIRE.
' ' A number of people wggested the circuit of Fig. 9 as an
easier alternative because it raquires only single 120 VAC/DC frequency
points btl,veen 100 Hz and 1 KHz are vcry effec- ~ loads. We tested it and
found no observable nat reduction in
tive in reducing meter indication. However, because of custo ~
metar i
ndication even thous~h someomers more by it.
mer feedback on successes of the 100 Hz to 1 KHz 'are-, we - The circuit of
Fig. 8 90t mixed reviecau# some custochanged our limit frQm 100 Irlz to 10 KHz- (to accommodate
mer~ noticed a n
et INCREASE in meter inion by using it.
audio generators~ in our ?rd ;Edition. This resulted in custoI have
not yet been able to pinpoiy particular meter type
mer complaints of filtering'pro~lems! Therefore, choose what- or circuit fact
or that explains therant differences beever range suits YOll beR. rhis method has no observabletween our resul
ts and the results of ot I do believe that
permanent effects on meters., the answer lies in the different effects on dif
ferent meter tyFs
The DC method problem of adver#lY affecting ~o~er '- I ~nder different loads
to yross violations of Blondel's Theorem
meters on the same transformer is usually nota problemwitH '~ ~See our~
KW-HR METERS book for an explanation of
~this method. The power lines and transformer will dissipate
Blondel~s'Theorem). This method has very little effect on the
~most high frequency energy components very affectivelv. ~ ~r-egistration
for loads NOT in the rectifier circuit.

A nurr~ar of firms today are peddling trarlsient elimina'' 4~ HIGH SURG

E, LOW DURATION LOADS
tors as energy savers. They state that by filtering out line
~ transients (usin~ their 0ossly overpric~d c~rcuits, of 'coursej '
Fig.
10 depicts several powertchin~ circuits. The timers
"the meter runs more slowly becaus~ transients cause meters - can be adiUSte
d in combination with ener diodes for load
to overregister.~ If this were so the frequency method des- ~ conditioning,
either manuallv or autcally (more circuitry
aibed herein would cause your;neters to overregistul ~Ow_
~ JS required),
to provide switching charistics that will
ever, -their rflasoning is tDtally false ~usin~ theit owri-h~gicl1:
minimiz
e the power meter readhile also minimizing load
~iltering~wt all line transients on the -meter'~ LOAD side Variations. Thi
s same effect is prodin spot weldin~
simply means that ALL of the incomin~ transient energy ~
operations and
it is a fact that utilitick on an extra use fee
dissipated BY THE METER ALONEI In fact~ the tran~ient ; for spot welders simdy
because their watthneters
energV then absorbed by the' neter- would be rnuch groater
substantially u
nderre8ister. This methquires the mnst
than that absorbed by the meter and the load without tra~
knowledge, time
and money to effect, anoodly amount of
sient removal because transient eliminators much reduce~the
total impedance as seen by the incoming transiNlts - thus
greatly increasing transient current levels inside the metcr.
In fact, the meter DOES SLOW DOWN USING JRAN c
SIENT ELIMINATORS - because such filterinD INCREASES-~ and not decreases - meter transientsll Thus, under a very
high transient environment, load side line filtering essentially
duplicates our Frequency Method. Other substantial enerDy
savings result because induction motors and transformers
operate far more efficiently with clean electrical inputs, and
their reliability and longevity also substantially increases.
Our RIPPLED OFF 11 pamphlet (S3.95~ describes
transient and ripple eliminator circuits, costing under S20 for
you tn make, that are as good - if not better - than the $200
or $12w ones peddled by these firms.
3~ HARMONIC LOADS
This method is most practical and easiest toachieve,and it
~loes not require special equipment or filtering of other loads.
See Fig. 8. However, much greater h~rmonic power is required
for the same effects. According to Fourier Theory, all
waveforms are composites of simple sine waves of certain
time to maintain.Fig. lUls a su~ested circuit, others will work, drcuit should b
desi8ned to best fit Vour needs. C-lOvv uf 400 PIV rn,inimum. SCRs or Motor
Star~r Relays should have minimum of 25 amp surge current rating. R~ watt
minimum heater elements or incandescem bulbs.
The author has received only one input from this method a person claiming
that this method could permanently slow down meters by causing damage to
the meter's current coils.
MAGNO-BRAKE TECHNIQUE
An anonymous contributor, whom I alll "The Flasher" (See our KW-HR
METERS Book), made us aware of the technique described in Fig. 12 . This

technique is easier to apply than the DC Method and can be more effective.
In fact, it can be made so effective that it would permanently wreck your
meter by disrupting its carefully balanced mechanical system and/or by
shorting out the voltage coil windings. The result of this damage can usually
be physically observed - the meter either fails to indicate or its action is
erratic often with scraping sounds. "The Flasher" managed to accidentally
wreck his utility meter in this fashion. Why utilities would react to this in an
hysterical
manner is beyond me since they cavalierly inject line ripple onto your power
line with no regard to the destructive effects it has on YOUR equipment and
on YOUR lifel
As with the DC Method, we suggest that you disconnect all other AC loads
from the rneter's circuit.
We used a commercial photoflash unit alled a SYNCHRO TESTER (National
Camera, Inc., 2000 West Union Ave., Englewood, Colo.). Check with your
amera store on vsrieties. Our unit outputs about 400 Volts, 1 to 50 msec.
duration per "flash."
The circuit of Fig. 13 would work just as well. Plate transformers are cheap
surplus items. You should be able to control voltage level with a rheostat.
The storage capacitor discharge can be controlled by an electromechanical or
solid state relay (SSR~ or even a telegrapher's key. The former two can be
electronically controlled to provide consistent and programmable results.
Voltage level duration and repetition rate should initially be low anri slowly
inaeased until the desired results are realized. Patience and perserverance
are musts to get optimum results and to gain valuable experience and
knowledge about meters.
Mkter
240 V~C
PhotoFln~h
CircUl t
Fig. 12: Our infamous Magno-Brake Technique. C-5.0 uf 600 PIV. Ls are same
as Fig. 6. C1=50 uf, 600 PIV polypropylene or other "poly" type upacitors.
R211~wirewound with bolt insert, 50 Watts. See text.
z . 1 H ~ r
lOK ~ lOW~tt 0.02 ufl
n U ~

C~p. Control
~nk Circuit

Xfrm~.
Fig. 13: Simple, effective home made "photoflash" circuit. Points A and B
correspond to Fig. 12. The minimum stepup value of the plate transformer is
250 VAC. Transformers with higher step-up voltages result in a greater
dramatic effect on meters. Be sure that other circuit components can easily
and safely handle the voltage and power produced by whatever transformer
you choose. See text.
When using any of the four methods desaibed, different timing schemes can
be used. For instance, there may be some Friods that you find it highly
advantageous to stop or even reverse your power meter while restoring it to

normal opeNtions during other Friods. Commerically available AC timers are

excellent here. Or you may feel more oontent to remove your circuit
completely between applications.
SORRYI We do not make or sell any of the described circuits. Also, we do not
answer questions presented us, or provide more detail on the sFcifics of
these circuits. Several past customers, whom, upon their request, we
INNOCENTLY provided more detailed information tried to rip us off with the
complaint that we provided them "how to" info. on ripping off the utilities,
even though we have reFatedly stated that we absolutely are against any
illegal applications whatsoeverl
Many electronic retail outlets do not carry an adequate supply or selection of
capacitors and many SPM lcustomers have written to us to supply them
information on the
SrOPPING POWER ME~ERS

P. 8

capacitor tyFs suggested in our applications. We recommend the follnwing

sources (of the many available) for capacitor information - sFcifications,
costs, distri_utors, etc. (It is usually helpful if you provide them with the
capacitor types and sFcifications needed, and the electrical parameters of the
applia~tinn~ v~-- h~ in mind.)
ELPAC Components Div.
ELPAC Electronics Inc.
313t S. Standard Ave.
&nta Clara, CA 92705
Sprague Electric Co.
645 Marshall St., N.
Adams, MA 01247
Corning Glass Works
Electronics~Prod. Div.
Houghton Park A2
Corning, NY 14830
Panasonic Co.
Industrial Components
1 Panasonic Way
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Del Electronics Corp.
250 E. Sandford
Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
Cornell Dubilier Elec. t 50 Avenue L Newark, NJ 071-1
Most of the awlications described herein require power inductDrs - some
very heavy. The author has found that surplus sources are a good start.
However, the values you need are not commonly available, in which ca# you
will need magnet wire to wrap your own. Magnet wire is available in various
coatings, gaups and lengths, but magnet wire heavier than 18 gauge is
almost never available in stores. Listed below are some very good sources of
magnet wire of virtually any gauge, length or coating.
Daburn Elect. & Cable Corp.
Belden CorD. Elect. Div.
70 0ak St.
P. O. Box 13i7
Norwood, NJ 07648
Richmond, IN 47374
Essex Magnet Wire & Insul. Div. McGraw Edison Co., Edis. Elec.

1510 Wall St. Grenier Fld., Munip. AirpDrt

Ft. Wayne, IN 46804
Manchester, NH 03101
Rea Magnet Wire Co., Inc. '
Phelps Dodge Magnet Wire Co.
3600 E.Pontiac St.
Box 600
Ft. Wayne, IN 46806
Ft. Wayne, IN 46801
STOPPING POWER METERS 3rd Edition is the culmination of years of work in
the vital area of meter re#arch,' design and testing. Many customer
contributions, insights and experiences have been integrated into it.
This 3rd Edition contains all of the information found in the 2nd Edition
(Copyrighted 1977) and STOPPING POWER METERS ADDENDUM (Copyrighted
1979), including our infamous MAGNO-BRAKE TECHNIQUE. The first edition
of STOPPING POWER METERS W85 copyrighted in March 1976. Since then,
well over 10,000 copies have sold nationwide and it continues - with ever
increasing popularity to be our very best #ller. It resulted in the author's
infamous CBS "60 MINUTES" interview with Mike Wallace (March 5, 1978,
"Power Pilferage"~ and many important subsequent media coverages.
STOPPING POWER METERS is brought to you by:
CONSUMERl~RONlCS GO.
P.O. DrawerS37, Alamogordo, N.M. 88310
It is but one of the very informative, useful and money saving publications
we offer.
Our other energy publications include: KW-HR METERS Book, MDVR Book,
RIPPLED OFF, LOADFINDER, LIBERATE GAS AND WATER, GOOSY MOTHA'S
FAIRY TALES, KILLER WATTS, FIREBREATHER, VORTEX GENERATOR and our
newest and most controversial one of all: IRON GONADS.
Other topics include: SURVIVAL GUNS & AMMO, SILENCE IS GOLDEN
(Silencers), V.A. - 2ND TO NONE?, F.D.I.C. - FACT OR FAIRY TALE?, THE TESLA
CONNECTION, HOLOCAUST AMERICA, X-RAY TO DEATH, etc. Send for our
brochure with $.30 in stamps or coin. Lots of luck and greates?of successes.

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